Sure sign of spring

Hosta noses
Originally uploaded by hostageek

Yes, most people would not find this picture very exciting. However I am not most people. You know that spring is finally in the air when you see the first hosta noses start poking out of the ground. Well that day for me was today! I was so excited I had to grab my camera and take a picture of them. This is hosta 'Christmas Tree'.

Using boxes to create a new flower bed

I have had a great level of success using boxes as a liner for my garden beds.  

1. First we remove the grass.  You probably don't have to do this step, but my husband likes to, so I let him.
2. I then cover the entire area of the new bed with cardboard boxes.  The cardboard boxes act as a natural weed barrier, and also help to keep the soil underneath moist.  I then really soak the boxes with water.  This makes them easier to dig into later.
3. I then add a layer of compost (or mulch) over the cardboard boxes and water again.
4. Your area is now ready for plants!

You can also this with thick layers of newspaper.  I used to do this, but I have a robin family that has made their home in my yard.  As soon as I covered the newspaper with my compost they would pull the newspaper up looking for worms.  So I switched to cardboard.

Three must attend garden events

For the first time in years three big garden events in my area are actually on different weekends. No choosing which one to attend this year.  I love all of these events, and they all offer different types of plants for your garden.

1. May 16 - Festival of Spring at the Paine Art Center in Oshkosh.  Get there early if you want the latest and greatest in plants.  Also offers lots of native plants.

2. May 30 - Outagamie County Master Gardener's Plant Sale.  A great variety of plants and a very nice price.  Many are dug from the master gardeners own gardens, so you know they will grow in Wisconsin.

3. June 6-7 - Green Bay Botanical Garden Fair.  A huge event that lasts two days and is a great event to bring the whole family to.

Spring is officially here!

Yes, spring is officially here!  You know it's here when you see the first crocus bloom, and today was that day.  Nevermind that snow is forecasted for the weekend, I'm sticking to spring.  I just love how a tiny little flower can bring so much joy!  

Coming out of hibernation--winter sowing hostas

Now that we have had a couple of warm days in here in the frozen tundra, I can feel myself coming of out hibernation.  I even picked up some tulips at Trader Joe's the other day to add a little spring to my house.  Of course, just when I start getting excited about spring it snows again on Friday night.  Yesterday, however, was in the 50's and beautiful.  

Thinking about getting my hosta seeds out today.  I've had very good success at starting them outdoors right about now.  I use my winter sowing containers, which are plastic bottles that I recycle into mini greenhouses.  I cut the plastic water bottles almost in half, drill drain holes in the bottom, and fill them with about 3 inches of soil.  I then plant my hosta seed, label the bottle, lightly water the soil, and place them outside.  Make sure to keep the cap off of the bottle, so water (or snow) can get inside.  I have had better luck using this method to grow hostas from seeds than trying to start them inside.

Winter Sowing Website

Hostapedia

The highly anticipated book by Mark Zilis may be just around the corner.  While his Hosta Handbook continues to sell for $100's of dollars on Ebay, Amazon, and other used book sellers. Mark has taken out a full page ad in the American Hosta Society's hosta journal announcing the new book titled, Hostapedia, will be available in March of 2009.  He is currently taking pre-orders through his business Q & Z Nursery. 

Sad news and happy news

This past Saturday I had to put my dog, Chevy, to sleep.  It has been really lonely in our house without him.  It was a hard decision, but it was the best one we could make for him.  Just when I thought that I would never stop crying the first hosta catalog for 2009 arrived.  It's almost like Chevy sent it to cheer me up!  I've been drooling over the new hostas in the Naylor Creek catalog.  I know for sure I definately want to order Tickle Me Pink.